I slept in on Saturday, and when I woke I thought it was much earlier than it was because it was still pretty dark out. I checked my phone and was surprised to see it was nine.

I peered out the window. It was a greenish color outside. The sky seemed heavy and overcast.

I made myself coffee and breakfast, then opened the door. It had been getting quite cold overnight but it seemed warm today.

I sat on the porch in my pajamas, enjoying my coffee as I listened to birds singing and watched squirrels chase each other. I hadn't had many moments to relax since I arrived and this moment was perfectly lovely.

I'm not sure how long I sat there but it was long enough for me to finish my coffee at a leisurely pace.

Finally, I stood and headed back in, showered, did pilates, then got dressed. I chose light gray jeans and a short sleeve silver v-neck blouse.

I straightened my hair, waving just the ends, then pulled it into a ponytail, leaving some strands out around my face. I quickly applied makeup, and when I was done getting ready, I looked around wondering what else to do with my day.

I decided to head to town for some groceries, so I did that, running into Travis and one of his girls at the grocery store. He was really a very nice man, and his teenage daughter was beautiful and polite. There were so many kind and helpful people in this town, unlike where I grew up. Everyone pretended to be nice there but I'm not sure if anyone actually was. Everyone I knew on a personal level had abandoned me when I needed them the most.

I didn't feel like lunch, so in the afternoon I had another coffee instead- again on the porch, listening to silence, reveling in nature.

I felt my body relaxing, my mind being still. I don't know that I had felt this way in...ever.

I probably sat there for a good hour or more before I told myself I should actually do something today so I didn't feel lazy and guilty later.

I inspected my hands. I had transitioned to large bandaids, which were less noticeable, but my hands weren't in great shape for any project.

I should go for a walk.

I used to run around in these woods all day long with Will. I remembered we had a path through the woods which connected our cabins.

A walk sounded perfect. I stood to find some shoes.

...........................................................................

Jake was up early since he had gone to bed sober. He was about to head outside and mow the lawn when something stopped him on a dime- a small frame on the porch down the hill. He didn't want to make any noise by grabbing his binoculars off the porch, so he couldn't exactly make out her face, but he could see she was simply sitting there with a mug in her hands. She was scantily dressed, in what he assumed were her pajamas. They were the light pink articles of clothing he had seen her in the other morning.

He couldn't see any details but what he could make out he couldn't keep his eyes off of. Her legs seemed awfully long and sculpted for how short he knew she was. He leaned on his door frame, watching her silently until she finally stood and entered the cabin.

What'd ya do that for?, he stirred and scolded himself.

He didn't know and he didn't much care. He had been filled with a deep serenity, no thought whatsoever, simply observing her sitting there. He had felt as still as she was. After she went inside, he got his lawn mowed.

Some time after lunch he noticed that her car was missing.

Some time after that he decided to go hunting, not because he necessarily needed more meat- his chest freezer was nearly full already, but simply for something to do.

...........................................................................

I went to the back of my cabin, searching for the path where I remembered it starting near my grandpa's shed, but I couldn't find one. It had probably overgrown because it hadn't been used for so long.

I wasn't giving up my desire of a long, leisurely walk through the woods, though. I simply picked what I thought was a good place to start and entered.

After about ten minutes of walking, I checked back over my shoulder. I could still see the tree line where my yard began. Momentarily, I stumbled upon a path.

There it is! Hooray!

Perhaps some remnant of our old path had still survived. I happily started following it.

I took in the clean mountain air, the sky, and the calm silence of the woods, interrupted only by the occasional bird singing or small animal scampering.

I thought about my life growing up. I felt the thousand tiny hurts over and over again, how I disappointed my parents so frequently. All I ever wanted was their approval, to please them, to make them happy so they would love me, but it never happened.

And then, with Harrison, the same thing.

Maybe I'm unlovable.

Maybe something was broken in me. I didn't know what but I wished I did. I could try to fix it if I knew what was wrong.

When I started heading down a steep hill, I was shaken from my reverie. I definitely didn't remember this part of the path before. I looked back. I had been veering to the right for some time. I was not adept in navigation by any means, but I couldn't even check the sun's position because it was still overcast outside.

I checked my phone. I'd been out here for two hours!

That realization sent a stab of fear into my stomach. The walk to Will's parents' should have taken forty-five minutes, if the cabin was still there. I started thinking perhaps I was actually lost.

I checked my phone again. I had plenty of battery power and I had a signal. It would be a couple hours before the sun started to set and it was still warm. I was okay. If I couldn't figure out where I was in another hour, I would call Will.

I turned around and started following the path back the way I had come, this time focusing on my surroundings.

The silence which had been so peaceful before now seemed oppressive.

...........................................................................

Jake had been sitting in a tree for some time now. He had brought his long range pistol instead of a rifle. He hadn't had any real reason behind it, simply felt like it. It was tucked into the waistband of his jeans. He had his back against the trunk of an old growth oak, his long legs extended across one of it's mighty arms, his own arms folded across his abdomen, flannel open with the sleeves rolled up.

He was still and silent, in a contemplative mood since this morning. He wasn't hung over today, which was a rare occasion, and Riley sitting on the porch like that had struck him strangely. He wasn't sure why her still form had held him captive, but it had. She was an oddity, unique to this area, and-

His train of thought was broken by a noise, a human noise, which instinctively raised his hackles. Two low, deep voices. Only briefly then it was over. Jake didn't move, scanning the area until he saw them. Two men moving slowly and cautiously, crouched, periodically standing and watching.

Jake felt his temper flare as he prepared to descend from the tree.

Mother fuckers huntin' on MY land...

He couldn't see what they were hunting, though. He grabbed out his binoculars and scanned the area around them.

An auburn ponytail and a gray shirt popped into view and he felt his breath catch. He moved his view from her to them, then back again.

He had the binoculars stashed in his side pocket and had silently descended the tree before the thought fully formed in his brain which already had adrenaline pumping through his body, propelling him rapidly and silently through underbrush.

They're stalking Riley.

...........................................................................

I followed the path back, intending to simply back track, but as I was following it, I noticed a small building in the distance. I recognized it immediately. It was a mosoleum with a tiny graveyard. Will and I had played there as kids. I knew that was on the edge of his property, left by an original settler to this area. I had to be close to his old property then. I wasn't actually lost.

I relaxed. I felt much better now. No longer worried about being lost in the woods, I decided to head to the graveyard and explore. I still had some light left, though it seemed to be getting darker earlier today, probably due to the cloud cover.

I heard a noise behind me and paused, quickly turning and scanning the area. I didn't see anything or hear anything but I felt a creepy chill run up my back, like when we used to tell each other ghost stories before going to sleep at a slumber party back in middle school.

I kept going, scolding myself for being so silly.

As I approached the graveyard, I heard something again. A noise so faint it wasn't anything in particular. I almost sensed it rather than heard it.

I peered around quickly. I saw nothing. Or did I? It was getting darker but I thought I saw a glimpse of movement near a large tree.

I'm imagining ghosts now?

I kept staring at that tree, taking cautious steps backward, and then...

My heart stopped and terror froze my entire body as strong arms clamped around me, a hand pressed my mouth closed, and I was lifted right off my feet!

...........................................................................

Jake dashed silently and intently after the two men, staying low, staying hidden, staying focused. When he got closer, he assessed their appearance and the situation. They seemed white trash to him. Slim, wiry, scraggly brown hair on both, dirty ripped clothes, dirty ball cap on one.  They didn't have hunting attire on, no rifles, and they were definitely following Riley.

Jake didn't let himself dwell on why. He felt nauseous before the thought even fully formed.

He trained his sights on her instead. She was heading toward the graveyard. There was a small building there. Acting on instinct, Jake moved up and around, circling back, approaching the graveyard from the other side, making sure he remained hidden from all three.

The tiny building was open on both ends, cement plaques lining the insides. He dashed in one side and cautiously peered out the other. Riley was close. She had turned, and was looking in the direction of the two goons, backing toward him. She must have heard something.

Perfect.

He could see them. He needed to get her attention without them noticing he was here. He knew he could take them, but maybe not without her getting hurt. Removing her from the situation without a scuffle was probably best.

Come on, he thought. One more step.

He watched the one man whispering to the other and took that opportunity to grab her.  He covered her mouth, lifted her right off her feet and pulled her backward into the building. He felt her body go rigid against him but she hadn't tried to scream.

He quickly set her down, grabbed her shoulders, turning her so she could see it was him, holding an index finger to his mouth to indicate for her to be quiet.

Her eyes were huge and she appeared terrified.

"What are you doing? Why are you following me!!? I have pepper spray!", she gasped quietly.

"Shhhhh", he cautioned. "Where is it?", he asked, holding out his hand for something useful.

"In...my purse", she said sheepishly.

She clearly didn't have a purse with her.

Good Lord.

"You're creeping me out. Are you stalking me?", she asked, backing away.

He heard movement so he snagged her arm, pulling her back up against his chest and covering her mouth again, listening.

She was struggling this time, trying to talk.

"Shhhhh", he whispered in her ear. "Stop fightin' me. I ain't followin' ya. They are. I was followin' them".

She stopped struggling. He had gotten her attention. He let go of her mouth.

She turned her face up to his. "Who?", she breathed.

He inched them forward. He could hear low conversation so he could tell their location. As he eased up to the edge of the doorway, she grabbed the forearm he had around her chest with both her hands, tiny fingertips pressing into his skin. He slowly and carefully peeked around the corner then let her.

She immediately recoiled against him and he slowly walked them backward, out of the moseleum, her holding onto his arm and moving compliantly.

Thank God, he thought. He was a little worried she was going to make a big fuss and attract their attention.

He moved them to the side of the building as the men paused and peered into it, then he quickly moved them to the opposite side as the men kept walking past.

Once they had passed by a few paces, she turned her face up to his and whispered, "Who are they? Why were they following me?"

Her large trusting eyes were clearly frightened. In the fading daylight the light green of her eyes was clear, sparkling, and dazzling. Her face was intimately close to his and she smelled intoxicating.

He mentally kicked himself in the balls. FOCUS!

"Dunno", he whispered back and felt her entire body tremble against him.

"I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to ya", he said confidently.

She stared into his eyes for a long moment then nodded.

"Should we follow them?", she whispered. "Find out where they came from or what they're up to?"

He nearly chuckled. She was so scared she was shaking yet she wanted to track them?

"Yep, we should", he replied softly. He wasn't sure if she could handle it but he also couldn't let her head out of here without him while he followed them.

"You do what I say and nothin' else", he instructed.

She immediately nodded and he felt her tremble again.

"If ya follow my instructions, ain't nothin' gonna happen to ya", he whispered.

She nodded again then let go of his arm. "Okay", she replied quietly. "Let's go".

...........................................................................

I was terrified. More scared than I had ever been before, more scared than I had been about the snake. Those men seemed...really bad. I didn't know why they were following me or what their intentions with me were, but clearly Jake was worried, too, or he wouldn't have grabbed me like he did and kept us out of sight. However, he said he wouldn't let anything happen to me and I believed him.

When he had grabbed me, I was embarrassed to remember that I had immediately thought maybe Will was right. Maybe Jake really was dangerous, but it couldn't have been further from the truth.

He released his arms from around me, grabbing my hand, taking the lead, moving quickly yet silently. I watched what he was doing and tried to step exactly where he was stepping while keeping up. It was difficult. His legs were long and the ground was uneven. I was sure I was making more noise than was preferable. His grip was firm and his pace relentless. I was quite sure he didn't want to lose them and we had already lost time talking.

Suddenly he stopped and squatted, pulling me down with him. I wasn't quite prepared for that, lost my balance slightly, and landed on my knees. I didn't make a sound and I didn't look around. I was listening hard.

"Well, she didn't just fuckin' disappear, dumb ass!", one of the men said rudely to the other.

"Why's it always my fault?", the other grumbled. "You were right there, too".

"You're 'sposed to know how to find people", the first countered. "You told him you was good at it!"

"He's gonna be pissed", the other agreed.

"Well, she ain't lost for good", the first man said. "We just dunno where she's at now".

"Missed our chance, though", the second man grumbled.

I was feeling faint. Who was he and why were all of these people looking for me?

I felt like I couldn't breathe. I grabbed onto Jake's mighty bicep for support with both hands and shut my eyes, focusing on breathing.

"I ain't gonna let nothin' happen to ya", Jake whispered again and I nodded.

The moment passed. I opened my eyes and tried to see where these men were. Jake had us crouched behind a log. I carefully peeked over the edge of it. They were down a slight hill poking around in a rusty pickup truck.

Apparently they found what they were looking for- a case of beer.

"You ever seen either of 'em before?", Jake whispered, handing me binoculars.

I thoroughly studied both of their faces. Neither appeared familiar so I shook my head no.

...........................................................................

Jake and Riley crouched behind the log and spied on the two men for another hour before they finally got in their dilapidated truck and left. Jake only caught snippets of conversation and couldn't see a way to get closer without being seen, so they stayed put. Meanwhile the men drank, smoked, and smoked pot. Jake could smell it from where they were. With his binoculars he got the plate number and made note of it in his phone.

Riley was doin' okay. Jake gave her a lot of credit. She was clearly terrified but had thought to follow these guys rather than running, and she had even heard them distinctly say they were tracking her, which nearly did her in. He thought she was gonna faint for a moment there.

Later he had glanced over at her, noticed that she was shivering, and peeled off his flannel, draping it around her shoulders. He didn't think it was cold so it was more likely she was in a form of shock. She gave him a grateful little smile as she slid her arms into the sleeves.

He had to smile back in spite of the situation. He easily coulda fit two of her in there.

When the men took off in the truck, he took her hand and helped her up.

She didn't let go of it, so he started walking back to their cabins with her cold little hand in his.

"Why do you think they were looking for me?", she asked quietly. "Me specifically?"

"Dunno", he replied. "I'm also wonderin' how they got that shitty of a truck down in the woods here".

"They said he", Riley added. "Who do you think he is?"

"Dunno", Jake replied again. "You got any admirers? Anyone woulda followed ya out here?"

Riley half laughed but it sounded sad. "None", she replied.

"Anyone got anythin' against ya?"

"Just Harrison, but I already gave him every single thing he wanted. I don't have anything else he could possibly want".

"Ya talk to anyone here yet? Anybody besides Will and Travis?"

"Not men, no. I talked to Molly and Deb".

"Dunno", he said. "Don't make sense. We'll figure it out, though. You outta call Travis".

"Ohhhhh...", she moaned softly, sounding agonized about that idea.

He glanced down at her. The light was fading quickly but he could see a little crease in the pale skin between her auburn eyebrows.

"Why not?", Jake asked.

"Because he will tell Will, who will probably be upset because I didn't call him first, but I don't even want to tell Will about this because he's going to be distraught and probably get me more worked up than I already am".

"What's the story between you two?", Jake took the opportunity to ask.

She glanced up at him, her eyes slightly startled and the crease still between her brows.

"Will? I told you we knew each other when we were kids".

She thinks I'm daft again.

"I mean now. You two datin'?"

"What?!?", she asked, looking horrified. "No, of course not! He's my friend!"

Mmm-hmmm, not sure Will knows that, sweetheart.

She was still walking while looking up at him in the dusk with that horrified expression when she fell.

He caught her, but not quickly enough. She landed on one of her knees.

"Ouch!", she cried out sharply, immediately standing fully on the leg closest to him.

"Ow, ow, ow...", she repeated softly, standing on one leg.

"Hold tight", he instructed, bending to take a peek. He turned on the flashlight on his phone and shined it at her knee. There was a small tear in her jeans, the area surrounding that hole already saturated with blood.

"What the fuck didya land on?", he asked.

"Rock, I think", she said.

He scanned the ground with his light. Something caught his eye. Yep, a large, sharp, charcoal colored rock with some blood on it was sticking up out of the ground just enough to cause damage.

"Pull up your pant leg", he told her.

"These are skinny jeans", she replied.

He glanced up into her face, annoyed.

"I can't", she elaborated. "They are tight around my ankles".

He handed up the phone to her. "Shine it for me".

She took it obligingly and shined it on her knee. Jake carefully got the index finger from each hand in the small tear and gave a mighty tug. The fabric tore all the way across her knee with a very satisfying rrriiipp!

She gasped from above him. "Those were four hundred dollar jeans", she said in disbelief.

He peered up at her face. She very clearly wasn't joking.

"Who the fuck wears four hundred dollar jeans in the woods?!", he asked scornfully.

"It's all I have", she explained quietly. "I came with all the clothes I had before. I haven't had money to get anything different".

Mollified, Jake moved around the fabric and inspected her knee without touching it. It was sliced clear across the knee cap, likely down to the bone, as there wasn't much padding on knees.

"This might need stitches", he mused.

"Oh no", she moaned. "No....no, no, no, no, no... Please...can't you fix it? No hospital, please?"

She sounded desperate. He stood and looked directly into her eyes. It was nearly dark but he could see them.

"Why?", he asked.

She teared up. "I don't have money for that, but...I really can't handle the thought of traveling a half hour one way for stitches, either. I...I'm afraid I'm not as brave as you. I don't...I've never been in a situation like this. I'm really kind of a mess right now, actually".

Jake felt his annoyance disappear.

"Don'tcha ever say you're not brave again", Jake said sternly. "You were terrified, but ya wanted to follow 'em anyway, not run, because you knew that was the right thing to do. Bein' brave don't mean you ain't scared. Bein' brave is being scared but doin' the right thing anyway. Yer braver than me 'cause I wasn't scared. Ya see?"

She smiled a little but it was weak.

"Come on then", he said, taking his phone back. "You want me to carry ya?"

"Oh, no", she said, sounding embarrassed. "I'm okay to walk". 

"No more fallin' then", he cautioned, taking up her hand.

When they got back, he brought her into his cabin instead of hers because he knew where his medical supplies were and what he had on hand.

He left her standing in the kitchen to grab the first aid kit from under the bathroom sink.

As he walked back to her, he took her demeanor in.

She appeared terrified and uncertain, still standing in exactly the spot he had left her in, drowning in his flannel, which hung to her knees. Her pale skin was even more pale than normal, her light green eyes wide, and a little crease in the perfect skin between her eyebrows.

She needed guidance and she needed to feel safe. He placed a hand on her shoulder and steered her to the kitchen sink where he had the best light.

"Pants off", he instructed.

"What?", she gasped, checking his face, her eyes even wider than before. He wouldn't have thought that possible.

"Gotta wash the blood off".

"I...", she floundered, her cheeks turning bright pink. "I can't...do that", she said, shaking her head no.

"I need to be able to get at your knee", he replied, exasperated, hearing the annoyance in his voice.

He watched her lip tremble slightly as she looked at the ground.

She was a unique girl, that was for sure. Jake didn't think he'd ever encountered any other woman who would have hesitated. This was a medical request, not a sexual one.

Careful, honey, he heard Liv pipe up for the first time all day. She's fragile. You might actually damage her if you don't handle this gently.

Jake grabbed her under her arms and set her up on the narrow bit of counter which wasn't covered by the overhanging cabinets. He opened a drawer and pulled out a large, extremely sharp knife, which he used for skinning animals.

She eyed it warily.

"This is the alternative", he said. "They're already destroyed, right?"

"Yes, go ahead", she said, understanding.

"Don't move now", he cautioned.

She stayed perfectly still as he cut her jeans open from the hole at the knee down the seam, then sliced that chunk off completely.

"Foot in the sink", he instructed.

She slipped off her shoe and then he noticed those with a great deal of annoyance.

"No wonder you fuckin' fell!", he growled, snatching it from her hand.

He noticed that she flinched when he did that, so he carefully changed his tone when he spoke next.

"You need somethin' with ankle support for walkin' around out here. Hikin' boots are best. I saw ya roll yer ankle in my driveway the other day in these, too".

They were slip-on canvas shoes with flat, barely cushioned soles.

"I don't have anything like that", she explained, flushing.

"Then we're gonna go get ya some...tomorrow", he said decisively, tossing the worthless shoe on the ground.

Focusing hard on being less intimidating, Jake reached for that pale leg. It was incredibly soft and incredibly smooth, and he was frustrated that he should notice as he lifted it to get her foot in the sink. She turned with him and grabbed his shoulder for balance as she nearly toppled off the narrow counter.

He simply placed a hand against her hip and shoved her butt over a couple more inches toward the wall.

"This is probably gonna hurt but I gotta get the blood off so I can see what I'm dealin' with", he said, checking her expression.

She was looking pale and worried again but she nodded.

He quickly washed his hands with soap and water, checked the temperature, and started washing the blood off of a very shapely, very beautiful leg. He noticed dark pink toenails on a small perfect foot, and realized that they matched her fingernails.

Again, it grated on his nerves that she thought she needed to be this fancy out in the woods.

She did flinch when he ran his thumb over the actual wound a couple times to check for debris but otherwise she seemed okay.

He grabbed a rag from the side of the sink and gently dabbed away all the water, then grabbed a cotton ball and put peroxide on it.

"This is definitely gonna hurt but it needs to be done so you don't get infection", he said.

She nodded.

He started cleaning the gash with the peroxide. About ten seconds later she was saying, "Ouch", softly, and grabbing his hand away with both of hers.

"Gotta do it, kid", he reminded her, waiting.

"I know", she said, her forehead creased. She was staring at her knee.

"Don't watch", he advised. "It hurts more when you look at it".

She glanced at his face, a questioning look in her peridot eyes, but she turned her gaze over his shoulder, taking his advice.

He finished cleaning the wound. It actually wasn't too bad. He thought she would be fine without stitches. He put antiseptic and antibiotic ointment on the wound, added three butterfly stitches, then bandaged it.

She had been staring over his shoulder that whole time.

"Done", he said.

She didn't even seem to acknowledge it.

"She's so very beautiful", she said wistfully, still staring over his shoulder.

With a shock, he realized what she was looking at- the picture of him and Liv.

"Who is she?", she asked, meeting his eyes then.

Jake's heart started pounding. He was quite sure he didn't want this conversation.

"My wife".

He watched Riley's eyes light up like she was surprised. He watched her look back at the picture, then at him, the crease back between her brows.

"She died", he said, before she could ask the question.

"I'm very sorry", she said quietly, and she looked it, her eyes tearing up slightly. "You two look so happy".

"We were", he said.

"How did you...handle that?", she asked carefully.

He peered into her eyes. Jake wasn't feeling mad as he would have guessed he'd be. She didn't seem pushy and she didn't seem to be asking just to ask. She seemed to genuinely care.

"Didn't", he replied. "I went off the fuckin' deep end. I didn't know how to live without her then, still don't".

"Is that why you're out here?", she asked gently.

"Yep, so I don't gotta deal with people. I ain't so great with 'em anymore".

"I think you do all right", she said.

Her face seemed sincere.

"How long ago?", she asked.

"Four years".

"What is her name?", Riley asked, again looking at the picture rather than him.

Jake caught that she said is instead of was, and he wasn't sure why that mattered, but it did. It mattered and it softened him toward her and toward this conversation.

"Liv", he replied.

Her eyes turned to his as she smiled. "Olivia?", she guessed.

"Yep".

"You weren't gonna say all that", she pointed out, repeating what he had told her verbatim.

Jake actually chuckled. She was spot on.

"A lovely name for a lovely person", she mused. "Can you...would you tell me about her? What was she like?"

Riley seemed a little nervous, like she thought he was going to get mad, but again, the way she worded things put him at ease.

"She was smart, sassy, full of fire. I don't think I ever won an argument with that woman. She loved her family, her friends, and me...for whatever reason. She was passionate 'bout everythin'. If she was sad, she showed it, mad, she really showed it. When she was happy, she drew everyone around her into her happiness. She was always standin' up for someone or some cause. She was a fighter, that's for sure", he said proudly.

"You're very lucky", Riley said wistfully.

He was confused.

"I mean", she floundered, instantly turning pink, "not that she's...gone, but...to have loved someone like that...you were clearly both very in love. To have found that...I wish someone loved me so much that they couldn't function without me. You two were really lucky to have found that".

Jake simply stood there, slightly shocked.

Riley pulled her foot out of the sink, turned, and hopped down.

Then she swayed slightly. He caught her elbow.

"We gotta getcha some food and call Travis".

"Fine", she sighed.

"I dunno if there's anythin' you wanna eat here. It's all made of rabbits", he said bluntly.

She instantly squeezed her eyes shut.

"Oh, I can't handle that right now. I'm so sorry".

Why the fuck is she always apologizin'?

"Get your shoe on", he instructed.

She complied then he quickly scooped her up in one movement, cradled in his arms, striding out his front door.

"Oh!", she had instantly gasped before quietly protesting. "Jake, you don't need to carry me. I'm okay. I can do this".

"You ain't and you can't", he snapped. "Yer gonna pass out or roll your ankle and then I gotta carry ya anyway. Might as well skip all that and go straight to the carryin'".

"I'm sorry to inconvenience you", she said, her voice catching.

"It ain't nothin'", he scoffed. "Ya weigh a hundred pounds, if that? I haul deer outta the woods twice yer size".

After a moment, he added, "You ain't an inconvenience. You stop talkin' like that".

She was silent but he could feel her little frame was rigid and guessed she would be silently beating herself up.

He got her inside her cabin, set her in a chair at the table, then started turning on lights as he found them, inspecting each room for signs that anyone had been there that didn't belong. He pulled his phone out and called Travis, one of the few numbers he had stored.

"Jake?", Travis answered, sounding surprised. Jake didn't call anyone to socialize, so he knew Travis would know it was serious.

"Can you take down a plate?", Jake asked.

"One sec", Travis said.

Jake heard some rustling.

"Okay".

Jake read it off, gave him the vehicle description, and the description of the suspects.

"They was on my property and my neighbor's, followin' her. I was huntin', saw 'em, and followed 'em. Grabbed her in the graveyard, hid her, and we followed some more. They was fightin' about losin' her, smokin' pot, drinkin'".

"What exactly did they say?", Travis asked, sounding concerned.

"The one said to the other that he was supposed to know how to find people, that he had told someone, him, he was good at it. Then the other guy said that they missed their chance".

"Anything else?"

"Nothin' relevant. Snippits of conversation mostly about partyin' and fightin' with people".

"Is Rillian all right?"

"Slight shock. Workin' on that now".

"I'm going to come talk to her, check her over", Travis said.

"Figured you'd say that. I'll let her know".

"I'm leavin' right now", he said.

...........................................................................

I was feeling really quite awful. As Jake was turning on lights and talking to Travis, I grabbed out bread and stuck two pieces in the toaster. Then I started shivering again.

"He's on his way", Jake told me as I was buttering my bread. "I'm gonna head out".

"Oh", I said, slightly stunned that he would leave me after all that. The thought hadn't even crossed my mind that he might. "Thank you so much. This is the second time you've saved me. I...I don't know how to thank you".

"No need", he said, and walked out.

I stared after him, felt the aloneness of the cabin without his large presence nearby, and then the image of the two men flashed through my head.

In a terror-stricken panic, I flew out the front door after him.

"Wait! Jake, WAIT!", I shrieked like a maniac.

He stopped, turning around next to my car in the driveway.

I flew at him, clutching his arm.

"Please don't go! I can't stay here alone! Please? I'm sorry I accused you of stalking me! I don't think that! You've only ever helped me and I feel safer with you here! Please don't leave! Please?!"

I knew I sounded desperate and pathetic but I couldn't help it. All of my words came out in a terrified rush and it was all I could do to stop myself from sobbing.

I was worried he might be annoyed. His face was unreadable.

"You'll be safe with Travis here and ya mentioned calling Will?", he prompted.

"No!", I nearly screamed, tugging on his arm.

I couldn't explain it but the thought of Will staying was nowhere near as comforting. In fact, it almost made me uncomfortable, which made no sense if I tried to think about that, but right now I wasn't thinking. I was panicking. I started to feel like I couldn't breathe. My heart felt like it was fluttering around in my chest.

"I want you! I cannot stay here by myself! Please?" Hearing my voice break, I gave his massive arm another tug.

He started walking back to my cabin with me.

"I wasn't leavin'a'cause of you", he said quietly. "It's because I'd rather not be here with Travis and Will".

I still had an iron grip on his arm.

"I'm right next door", he added. "If ya need me, I can be over in two minutes".

"I don't even have your phone number!", I said desperately, starting to sob then. I couldn't help it.

"Cripes, Riley", he said, opening my screen door. "You gotta sit and eat. I'll get my number in yer phone. Give it here".

I handed it over then grabbed my plate of toast from the counter, sitting and starting to eat. I wasn't audibly crying but I couldn't quite stop the deluge from running down my face. Tonight had been emotionally exhausting, and the thought of being completely alone all night pushed me right over the edge.

I couldn't see what Jake was doing, I was so blinded by tears, but a glass of apple juice appeared near my plate.

I couldn't even speak to tell him thank you.

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* I hope you are enjoying the story so far! What do you think about Jake? Misunderstood or bad seed? Click vote and keep reading! *